Ann Coulter confused about that pot and kettle saying.

June 28, 2002 5:56 PM

Ann Coulter confused about that pot and kettle saying. Katie Couric calls Ann on her own slander and nazi related namecalling on the Today show. Ann later later tells James Carville that its liberals who have a problem with calling people nazis. Hypocrisy must be selling nowadays, Coulter's new book is number one at amazon.com and fourth at barnes and nobles.
posted by skallas (35 comments total)

Cat fight! Cat fight!

Ah, wait - I can't even get worked up to care about this. Coulter's an idiot, Couric is too - it's just not that entertaining to watch two intellectual midgets stumble over their lines when things go beyond what they have each been pre-programmed to parrot.
posted by yhbc at 6:08 PM on June 28, 2002

Ann Thrax's masterpiece is already being discussed here
She is MeFi's favorite right-wing psycho, all right, but two FPP's in a few hours time?
posted by matteo at 6:12 PM on June 28, 2002

I'd like to ignore her too, but she's not just some marginalized nutcase, she's a bestseller. From what I can tell from people who have read the book this isn't just media analysis with an agenda but the selling of conspiracy theories. Namely, liberals controlling the media for their own misguided ends. I think history shows that conspiracy theories about a small group of people controlling major resources can be dangerous. From the Protocols of Zion ( a fav of anti-semites ) to the New World Order ( a fav of McVeigh ), once nonsense becomes sense to the populace then we have a problem.

matteo- that FPP was about Bush's joke. The Coulter book is simply mentioned as an aside.
posted by skallas at 6:26 PM on June 28, 2002

Kind of funny. Her book is number one but she only has 6 reviews which all give her one star (except one generous soul who gave her two stars).
posted by geoff. at 6:27 PM on June 28, 2002

And Stupid White Men is in it's 23rd printing, #14 at Amazon and returned to #1 on the NYT Bestseller list. Both are undoubtedly crappy books.

“We are beginning to realize that emotions and imagination are more potent in shaping public sentiment and opinion than information and reason.”
— John Dewey, The Problem of Freedom
posted by raaka at 6:34 PM on June 28, 2002

The fact that so many people still actually _read_ books -- going to a bookshop, to a public library or buying them online -- usually warms my heart and gives me a glimmer of hope.
Then I check out the best-seller's list
posted by matteo at 6:58 PM on June 28, 2002

I will confess being concerned about the US media. There's what? six companies that control it all? How many corporate executives? 50-60 grand total?
It doesn't really matter *what* their philosophy is, sooner or later they're going to end up like the Canadian newspaper monopoly, firing editors and writers for criticizing politicians that the owners like.

Is it time for big media to be broken up? What other oligopolies need to get run through the ringer, while they're at it?
posted by kablam at 7:08 PM on June 28, 2002

Oh, and by the way, about ignoring Ann Thrax. That'd be easier to do if she were just another talk-radio ill-informed right winger who talks to people who just dig to hear over and over again their prejudices being repeated on air, no questions asked, no use of the brain required.
I don't have a problem with Limbaugh or Hannity and all the others, they're doing their grim job pretty effectively (and Noonan, well, her sometimes pathetic rhetoric notwithstanding, she's actually good at doing something -- she could write some effective stuff for Reagan-Bush sr speeches. Almost all more or less stolen from the Kennedys, but good all the same)

Coulter's cheerfully constant references to Nazi historical figures, that kind of name-calling, well, that's chilling.
I think the Holocaust is too sacred a topic to be cheapened like this by a publicity-seeking "author"
posted by matteo at 7:08 PM on June 28, 2002

Amazing how a little leg will make someone with the intellectual capacity of a USENET troll a bestseller...
posted by solistrato at 7:56 PM on June 28, 2002

Here's a post about all kinds of inaccuracy and libel in Slander. I'm not sure if that blog will be entirely about this or not.

Ann Coulter was painful to watch on CNN and MSNBC this week just because of her childishness and sissiness. She wanted to bet anyone that the pledge justices in 9th circuit were both appointed by democrats. I'd have bet you all the cash you are making on this book, Ann. She later whined because she came there to promote her book and was broadsided by all these questions.
posted by mblandi at 8:22 PM on June 28, 2002

I think the Holocaust is too sacred a topic to be cheapened like this by a publicity-seeking "author"

I've never understood the desire to sanctify mass murder.
posted by rushmc at 8:30 PM on June 28, 2002

Salon also has a rather negative review of Coulter's book.
posted by McBain at 9:07 PM on June 28, 2002

As bad as Coulter is I'm even more creeped out that Tim LaHaye's "Left Behind" novels are bestsellers. First LaHaye now Coulter, maybe this really is the Apocalypse.
posted by homunculus at 9:53 PM on June 28, 2002

I want to see Ann Coulter set opposite NoFundy on Hardball, then we can talk about media balance.
posted by dglynn at 10:03 PM on June 28, 2002

Did anyone here actually read the book, or is this thread an analysis of Coulter's public persona?
posted by BlueTrain at 10:13 PM on June 28, 2002

The TV interviews are not soley about her 'public persona' (so who ya dating??) but question her current and past writing and are all about her political opinions. The thread is going to be whatever the thread turns out to be. There are already two critical links about her book, Bluetrain. Are you saying mefites shouldn't discuss someone in general, their past work, and current activities unless they've read that person's newest book? People are going to post their opinions regardless and we're better for it.
posted by skallas at 11:32 PM on June 28, 2002

sjc

Amazing how a little leg will make someone with the intellectual capacity of a USENET troll a bestseller...

source?
posted by Dick Paris at 11:39 PM on June 28, 2002

As someone who considers himself somewhat of a feminist, or at least a 'sexual equality' person, I was more offended by the guy filling in for Arron brown on CNN reporting this.

They showed the clip (the same one on the 'net) and then showed the guy going "cat fight! mmeeraaww" like a friggin' idiot. Like what, women can't have a heated political debate or something?

Truthfully it was a bit 'wommany', all fake smiles and all. but still

And fuck, I missed the last politicaly incorrect : (
posted by delmoi at 11:43 PM on June 28, 2002

I for one have read the book, and, well, I thought it was actually intended to be comedy at first. It's that bad. I try to read anything that goes across the counter that some might find offensive, in order to have a simple discussion with a patron about the title or the author.

Ann Coulter reminds me of some mutant cross between the likes of Howard Stern and Jerry Falwell. Her rants are usually not backed up with sufficient evidence, her accusations are course and shocking, and the only thing that really saves her (in my opinion) is the fact I think she's a hottie, in a twisted sort of way.
I need help, I know.

She reminds me of someone hanging around the Yahoo forums saying things like "Faggots suck!" , or "Fat girls give good head!" just to see how people will react.
Troll.
posted by bradth27 at 11:44 PM on June 28, 2002

There are already two critical links about her book

Critical? Please...the Yahoo link overplayed the "cat fight" angle and did nothing for further either woman's point of view. The CNN link, again, was a clash of personalities. Coulter felt that she was attacked both times, and lashed out. Neither link discussed the book in depth; they both took one passage that discussed Couric.

Are you saying mefites shouldn't discuss someone in general, their past work, and current activities unless they've read that person's newest book?

I'm saying you easily could've done a better job with this post by waiting for a book review, finding some major excerpts...something more conclusive than a couple of flaky interviews.

People are going to post their opinions regardless

Absolutely.

and we're better for it.

Well, let's just say that when a member of the right-of-center is attacked around here, I'm not exactly questioning my beliefs.
posted by BlueTrain at 12:03 AM on June 29, 2002

There are already two critical links about her book

Critical? Please...

The links I was talking about are in THE THREAD. Sheez. Your post asked about the thread, not the post.

If you have such a big problem with my post please post it in metatalk. You've been here long enough to learn that much.
posted by skallas at 12:17 AM on June 29, 2002

The name of the bookseller is "Barnes & Noble." The "Noble" is NOT plural ("Nobles"). Just thought I'd point that out.
posted by davidmsc at 12:20 AM on June 29, 2002

Laura Ingraham is far better looking.
posted by donkeyschlong at 1:28 AM on June 29, 2002

Yeah - Coulter is just too skinny. I wish Laura was getting this much exposure (no pun intended).
posted by davidmsc at 1:46 AM on June 29, 2002

I agree. Eat a cheeseburger.
posted by McBain at 7:01 AM on June 29, 2002

Any and all discussions about 'Thrax should be about her looks, or comparative lack thereof ... because what else is there, again?
posted by donkeyschlong at 9:49 AM on June 29, 2002

Either hypocrisy is selling... or those who don't like Ann are a little bit out of touch with the majority of the country.

Nah, that couldn't be it, could it?
posted by hadashi at 10:45 AM on June 29, 2002

or those who don't like Ann are a little bit out of touch with the majority of the country.

I don't know. It's not that "the majority of the country" is reflected in the NYT or Amazon best-seller list. Let's say that a nice part of the book-buying public (plus, probably, many people who dont usually buy books but bought hers more or less on impulse because they liked what they heard on tv or on the radio) is now choosing to buy Coulter's book.
"The majority of the country" -- or better yet, those who bothered to vote -- chose Gore in 2000, so that majority shouldn't really like Coulter's ideas and buy her book. She has more of a "electoral-college" kind of success

Let's say her success is selective -- right wingers buy lots of right-wing commentators' books (I'd guess that Michael Moore's success is kind of an exception). She's a good looking conservative who's media-savvy, gets booked a lot on TV and is very good at trolling. That's the recipe, I think.

This whole "majority" thing is a tricky concept.
posted by matteo at 11:14 AM on June 29, 2002

This whole "majority" thing is a tricky concept.

Considering the fact that you just proved Gore-supporters incorrect, I'd agree that the "majority thing is a tricky concept". Based on your logic, the majority of the voting population voted for Gore, not the majority of the country. For all we know, according to your logic, the other 50% of this nation could have caused Bush to have a popular mandate, had they shown up to the election.

Let's say her success is selective

Or we could say that her success was just that, success.

That's the recipe, I think.

Actually, I believe that's the recipe for getting a thread on MeFi. No wonder Limbaugh is usually ignored around here.
posted by BlueTrain at 11:32 AM on June 29, 2002

How long will it be till we see Coulter in a "Girls Gone Wild" video?

I'll pre order that one!!!
Even Maher said he could be friends with a Facist....
posted by themikeb at 12:22 PM on June 29, 2002

according to your logic
It's not "my logic". It is math. It is _wrong_ to argue that the majority of the country reads Coulter, and therefore the MeFites who don't dig Ann Thrax are out of touch.
It is not the majority.
I included a campaign 2000 example, and you just got snippy about it, there's no need to. I was just mentioning that sometimes "majority" is not a very clear word ( I mean, the "majority" candidate is home watching football or something, in this case the majority was useless because it's the electoral college that counts). Again, it's not a personal thing I have. It's 2+2=4

No wonder Limbaugh is usually ignored around here.
Check again. You weren't a MeFi user yet, but when he lost his hearing, we've had lots of Rush threads, double posts, etc. Same when Michael Moore's book was discussed. Limbaugh's just not that newsworthy for this community anyway, we prefer our Ann Thrax

that you just proved Gore-supporters incorrect
Incorrect in what? In voting for Gore? In not buying (presumably) Coulter's book?

Or we could say that her success was just that, success.

Of course. I just mentioned that it's very likely that she doesn't have a bipartisan kind of success. I.e., it's mostly right-wingers who buy her book, more than enopugh to get rich.
Nothing wrong with that.

according to your logic, the other 50% of this nation could have caused Bush to have a popular mandate, had they shown up to the election.

But they didn't and he lost the popular vote. I'm talking about hard data here, not voter's intentions. This is not my logic, again.

see Coulter in a "Girls Gone Wild" video?
she's wild enough already, man
posted by matteo at 12:28 PM on June 29, 2002

delmoi: And fuck, I missed the last politicaly incorrect : (

Too bad!! 2/3 of the way through the show, he said "I know this is hokey to do on national television, but..." and got on his knees and proposed to Arianna Huffington.
posted by hincandenza at 12:28 PM on June 29, 2002

Laura Rocks!
posted by davidmsc at 1:27 PM on June 29, 2002

Ann Coulter thrills me even more than Jerry Fallwell. She sends more centrist fence sitters screaming to the left than most of the other foaming at the mouth radical right wingers put together.

You ain't gonna win against Katie, Ann.

Middle America adores her.
posted by mark13 at 7:58 PM on June 29, 2002

White America! I could be one of your kids!
White America! Little Ann looks just like this!
White America! Little Ronnie loves my shit, I go on P.I. look how many hugs I get!
posted by McBain at 8:55 PM on June 29, 2002